🎮 Ludus - Your VS Code Gaming Sanctuary

Take a break, recharge your mind, and boost your productivity with classic games right in your editor.

Ludus transforms your VS Code sidebar into a nostalgic arcade, featuring 15+ timeless games that help you relax, refocus, and return to coding with fresh energy. No context switching, no external apps – just pure gaming bliss within your favorite editor.

✨ Why Ludus?

🧠 Mental Health Matters

• Combat coding fatigue with quick mental breaks
• Reduce stress with familiar, comforting gameplay
• Boost creativity through playful problem-solving

⚡ Zero Friction

• Instant access from VS Code sidebar
• No installation overhead or external dependencies
• Seamlessly integrated with your development workflow

🎯 Productivity Focused

• Short game sessions perfect for Pomodoro breaks
• Quick mental reset between complex coding tasks
• Return to work refreshed and focused

🎲 Game Collection

🧩 Puzzle & Strategy

⚡ Action & Reflexes

🎯 Classic Arcade

🚀 Get Started in 30 Seconds

1. Install

# From VS Code Marketplace
ext install ruivalente.ludus

Or search "Ludus" in VS Code Extensions

2. Launch

• Look for the 🎮 icon in your sidebar
• Click to open your gaming sanctuary

3. Play

• Choose any game from the beautiful menu
• Use keyboard shortcuts for lightning-fast access
• Enjoy seamless theme integration

🎨 Beautiful & Adaptive Design

Ludus doesn't just feel like VS Code – it IS VS Code. Every game automatically adapts to:

• 🌙 Your theme (Dark, Light, High Contrast)
• 🎨 Your color scheme
• 📱 Your window size
• ⌨️ Your preferred controls

⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts

Universal Controls

• Ctrl+Shift+P → "Ludus: Open Games" for instant access
• Escape → Return to game menu from any game
• R → Restart current game

Game-Specific Controls

🔢 Number Merge     │ WASD or Arrow Keys to merge tiles
🐍 Snake           │ WASD for direction control  
🧩 Block Puzzle    │ WASD to move, Space to drop
🏓 Paddle Games    │ A/D or Mouse for paddle control
🎯 All Games       │ Intuitive click & keyboard controls

🏆 Features That Developers Love

🔒 Privacy First

• Zero data collection – your gaming is private
• Offline functionality – works without internet
• No external requests – completely self-contained

🛠️ Developer Experience

• TypeScript powered for reliability and performance
• Modular architecture for easy customization
• Comprehensive testing ensuring quality gameplay
• Open source – contribute and customize freely

📈 Performance Optimized

• Lightweight – minimal impact on VS Code performance
• Efficient rendering with optimized canvas operations
• Memory conscious – automatic cleanup and resource management
• Responsive UI – smooth 60fps gameplay

🎯 Perfect Use Cases

🍅 Pomodoro Breaks

Take 5-minute gaming breaks between focused work sessions

🧠 Context Switching

Clear your mind when switching between complex projects

⏰ Waiting Periods

Stay engaged during builds, deployments, or downloads

🤝 Team Building

Share high scores and challenge colleagues

😌 Stress Relief

Decompress after debugging or difficult problem-solving

📊 Real Developer Feedback

"Ludus has become an essential part of my development workflow. Quick Snake games between coding sessions help me maintain focus for hours." – Senior Developer

"Finally, a gaming extension that doesn't feel out of place in VS Code. The theming integration is perfect." – UI/UX Engineer

"The TypeScript codebase is beautiful. I've contributed two games already – it's so easy to extend!" – Open Source Contributor

🛠️ For Developers & Contributors

Quick Development Setup

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/ruivalente99/ludus

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start development mode
npm run watch

# Launch Extension Development Host
# Press F5 in VS Code

Project Architecture

🏗️ Modern TypeScript Architecture
├── 🎮 /src/games/          # Individual game implementations
├── ⚙️ /src/extension.ts    # Main extension logic
├── 🧪 /src/test/           # Comprehensive test suite
├── 📦 /out/                # Compiled JavaScript
└── 🎨 /assets/             # Icons and resources

Contributing New Games

Adding games is straightforward with our modular architecture:

// 1. Create your game class
class MyAwesomeGame {
    constructor() {
        // Game initialization
    }
    
    render() {
        // Game rendering logic
    }
}

// 2. Register in extension.ts
// 3. Add to menu system
// 4. Submit PR!

📈 Roadmap

🔜 Coming Soon

• 🏆 Achievement system with unlockable content
• 📊 Advanced statistics and progress tracking
• 🎵 Sound effects (with toggle option)
• 🎮 More classic games (Pac-Man style, Chess, etc.)
• 🏅 Leaderboards for competitive players

💡 Community Requests

• 🎨 Custom themes for individual games
• ⏱️ Timer challenges and speed modes
• 🔧 Game customization options
• 📱 Mobile-friendly controls

🤝 Join the Community

🐛 Found a Bug?

Report issues on GitHub – we fix them fast!

💡 Have an Idea?

Join discussions and shape the future of Ludus

🏗️ Want to Contribute?

Check our Contributing Guide – all skill levels welcome!

⭐ Love Ludus?

• Star the repository on GitHub
• Rate the extension in VS Code Marketplace
• Share with fellow developers – spread the joy!

📄 License & Credits

MIT License – Free to use, modify, and distribute

Created with ❤️ by developers, for developers

Ludus: Where productivity meets playfulness 🎮✨